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Indian Journal of Geo-Marine Sciences (IJMS) >
IJMS Vol.39 [2010] >
IJMS Vol.39(1) [March 2010] >
| Title: | Water quality status and Primary productivity of Valanthakad Backwater in Kerala |
| Authors: | Meera, S
Nandan, S Bijoy |
| Keywords: | Water quality
primary production
ANOVA
correlation analysis
Valanthakad backwater |
| Issue Date: | Mar-2010 |
| Publisher: | CSIR |
| Abstract: | The water quality and
primary productivity of Valanthakad backwater (9° 55′ 10. 24′′ N latitude
and 76° 20′ 01. 23′′
E longitude) was monitored from June to November 2007. Significant spatial and
temporal variations in temperature, transparency, salinity, pH, dissolved
oxygen, sulphides, carbon dioxide, alkalinity, biochemical oxygen demand,
phosphate-phosphorus, nitrate-nitrogen, nitrite-nitrogen as well as primary
productivity could be observed from the study. Transparency was low (53.75 cm
to 159 cm) during the active monsoon months when the intensity of solar
radiation was minimum, which together with the run off from the land resulted
in turbid waters in the study sites. The salinity in both the stations was low
(0.10 ‰ to 4.69 ‰) except in August and November 2007. The presence of total
sulphide (0.08 mg/ l to 1.84 mg/ l) and higher carbon dioxide (3 mg/ l to 17
mg/ l) could be due to hospital discharges and decaying slaughter house wastes
in Station 1 and also from the mangrove vegetation in Station 2.
Nitrate-nitrogen and phosphate-phosphorus depicted higher values and pronounced
variations in the monsoon season. Maximum net primary production was seen in
November (0.87 gC/ m3/ day) and was reported nil in September. The
chlorophyll pigments showed higher values in July, August and November with a
negative correlation with phosphate-phosphorus and nitrite-nitrogen. The study
indicated that the water quality and productivity of Valanthakad backwater is
impacted and is the first report from the region. |
| Page(s): | 105-113 |
| ISSN: | 0975-1033 (Online); 0379-5136 (Print) |
| Source: | IJMS Vol.39(1) [March 2010]
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